SkyHi wallops Kodiak

Posted: Sunday, September 19, 2004

By MATT TUNSETHPeninsula Clarion

Although the 2004 season has been an often-bitter one for the Skyview Panthers, homecoming proved to be mighty sweet as the Panthers mauled the Kodiak Bears 38-0 for their first win of the season Saturday.

"This team has been playing tough football all year long, so it's great to finally get a win," Skyview head coach Phil Sheridan said following the game.

After enduring five straight losses to start the season, Skyview now has something to play for: with wins in its final two games, the Panthers can make the playoffs.

"If we play the next two weeks the way we did today, we'll have a shot," Sheridan said.

On Saturday, the Panthers played solid on both sides of the ball, forcing Kodiak into seven turnovers and holding the Bears to just 71 yards of offense.

"We are one of the toughest defenses around," Sheridan said.

On offense, Skyview running back Gregor Bossick scored two touchdowns and racked up 150 yards on only seven carries, and Tyler Wehrli and Clark Buffington each added scoring runs of their own. Wehrli also scored on a 28-yard interception return.

With the loss, Kodiak dropped to 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the Northern Lights Conference.

Next up for the Panthers are the Kenai Kardinals, which won 34-0 Friday over the Homer Mariners to move to 2-0 in the conference. Although Skyview is just 1-5 overall, the Panthers are 1-1 in the NLC meaning wins over Kenai next week and Homer on Oct. 1 would give them a berth in the state playoffs.

"Kenai is going to be tough," Sheridan said.

However, with its first win of the season under its belt, Sheridan said the Skyview players will likely take a bit of time to celebrate their big homecoming win before looking ahead to next week.

Seward got a 35-yard touchdown run from Jake Wilder to pull out a 20-13 win Friday over the Houston Hawks in Houston.

Wilder's run came with just 3:43 left in the fourth quarter and broke a 13-13 tie. Wilder led Seward with 172 of Seward's 243 yards of total offense. The versatile back had nine carries for 71 yards and caught seven passes for 101 yards.

Seward quarterback Coty Beck completed 10-of-22 passes for 131 yards and two scores, including a 15-yard strike to Ryan Dieckgraeff in the second quarter to tie the game.

Houston was led by running back Karl Thistle, who ran for 136 yards on 29 carries.

With the win, Seward took over sole posesion of second place in the Great Land Conference at 4-1 (5-1 overall), while Houston was eliminated from playoff contention, falling to 2-2 in the GLC.

Seward next travels to Homer for a nonconference matchup with the Mariners before returning home to face the Nikiski Bulldogs in the final week of the season in a game that could determine which team makes the playoffs.